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The Beatconductor flexes his versatile re-edit skills here giving you three new tracks on Spicy. The pressings are loud and clean, really doing justice to the quality of these edits. The first track "Jibaro(1)" re-works Elkin & Nelson's smooth Latin groove, turning...
expand review it into a super extended version with breaks and movements. The mood is simply undeniable. Flip it over for an almost housey re-vamp of Dance Reaction's classic "Disco Train" called "Dancing Trains(2)." He gives it the useful rework, keeping the integrity of the original with the perfect modern touch. For good measure, he ends it with some flavorful heavy dub in "Out Of Bondage(3)." -C'mish
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Ah yes, more dancefloor breaks and beats from Sweden! Before working for the Lab, I had no idea cats out there were so damn funky - the output from that region is amazing. Nobody (especially B-Boys) can resist the sheer funkiness of...
expand review Dennis Coffey's "Theme From Blackbelt Jones," revisited here in "Blackbelt Funk(1)." "Mais New Guem(2)" has that feel-good EWF vibe that would just kill at a rooftop party in the summer. I can imagine Spinna playing this (though he'd probably play the original) and wrecking shop. Also features "Soundtable(3)," generously laid out across the entire flipside with more of that soulful, broken beat groove, plus vocal bits that sound like a close relative of "Brazillian Rhyme". Where you at T-Kat? -snackmaster
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What's up with Sweden? And how do they always come correct with the breakbeat-fusion styles?! (i.e. Beat Fanatic, Red Astaire, Tangoterje, GAMM, etc, etc...) Whatever it is, the guys up there know who to work with it and take that positive, dubby,...
expand review funky, earthy vibe to dancefloor perfection. Beat Fanatic's "Around The World In 80 Beats" is a well-rounded example of this. Take a listen to "Fridaynight Dubdisco Delite(1)" for a taste of what he's working with. Hear that subtle "Rock Creek Park" sample in the background? Those congas and keys? That funked-out bass? That's what I'm talkin 'bout. "Frosted Flakes(2)" is kind of on the same tip with the disco-rap drums and smooth vibe, but if you need to turn up the heat even more, check "One More Thing(3) and "Broken Descarga(4)." Just hope some people know how to samba, 'cause this shit rips hard on the latin tip. Beat Fanatic even does a proper afro-beat style on "Lagos Beatphreak(5)" - heavy on the drums and guitar funk. When it comes to this style, "Around The World..." got you covered with 8 tracks of goodness from your favorite beat chef outta Sweden. Fans of GAMM, WonderWheel, Freddie Crueger, etc. get with it. -snackmaster
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More latin flavors from the multi-talented Beatfanatic. "Broken Descarga(1)" is an extended Latin horn jam, complete with Cuban vocal chants. Quite convincing. He also offers up a new 2006 version(2) of his classic "Cookin," mixing broken percussion and breaks with Latin influences....
expand review "Let Us Pray(3)" strays from the other two tracks, instead delivering that soulful disco thing that BF also specializes in. -the mgmnt
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Amongst 12" buyers, Beatfanatic has become a brand name. Most every 12" this guy puts out is an automatic lock for 50-plus copies here at Lab, a pretty high standard for someone from Sweden. But his output is undeniable, mixing disco, afrobeat,...
expand review jazz, and breakbeats, all with an authentic 70s touch. This is the follow-up to the Lab-classic Adventures album, and features 15 new tracks. That's quite a bit of material, for a sampling checkout: "Mighty Love(1), Like a Sound(2), Origins of Hip Hop(3), Blow My Mind(4), Holdin Out(5), Doin' Fine(6)." As for some feel. here's what Sabo says: "You cannot go wrong with this album if you're a fan of disco, funk or soul. Every track is packed with both live sounding instrumentation and recognizable samples, all without sounding over done. You could mix these tracks right in and out of the classics and no one would ever know the difference. This is one that will be in my record bag for a long time, right next to this Swede's first album. Highly recommended to keep the crowd moving and smiling." -the mgmnt
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I like this Freddie Cruger guy: he keeps it simple and powerful. You might already know him from numerous releases on GAMM and Swedish Brandy, or his full length released earlier this year under the name "3 Foot People" all good things....
expand review This 12" is a first in a series of instrumental cuts of his most requested tracks. Ever since producers like Prefuse, Dabyre, and RJD2, it seems everyone is trying to out-sequence each other to form their signature sound. Not this dude. Picture smooth, jazzy beats, with insanely crisp snares and kicks, and warm bass. Basically, the type of shit MC's would kill to rhyme over. 4 tracks total, all playable and all good: "Keep On Moving(1)," "In The Jungle(2)," "Sunday Love Beat(3)," and "Live Tune(4)." -C'mish
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Third full length from Freddie Cruger aka Red Astaire. At this point in Lab history, you should know exactly what to expect from Freddie: throwback beathead productions and dj boogie jams, approached with Swedish cleanliness and efficiency (like that Ikea record...
expand review shelf you have at home). Checkout "Keep On Knockin(1), Psycho Cha Cha(2), Wind It Up(3), Jazzflow(4), What Ya Sayin(5)," and "I Got(6)." 13 tracks on double vinyl, recommended. -the mgmnt
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Freddie Cruger aka Red Astaire leads off with the soulful vocal track "Rainy Days(1)" featuring Adl and Linn. Reminds me of one those positive feeling, 90s-era album cuts (produced by Premier or Pete Rock). Cruger keeps that nostalgic vibe going with the...
expand review darker instrumental cut "Keep Striving(2)" and its CTI-type fusion feel. The b-side starts with another instrumental "We're Really Good(3)" a more uptempo, atmospheric broken beat track. It's real subtle stuff with an emphasis on bass, I'm really feeling it. The album ends with the "Rainy Days" instrumental(4) which sounds even better on its own. -the mgmnt
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This might be the coolest Red Astaire remix yet. On "Go Move(1)," a sinister as phuc beat (think "Tom Sawyer" meets Blade Runner) sets up the rebirth of Q-Tip and Busta's "For The Nasty." So much better than the original (engineered in...
expand review Stockholm, brotha). Red Astaire is relentless, offering an awesome b-boy horns track on the flip entitled "Feel The Horns Blow(2)," totally smoking. And for the DJs, he's also included an echoed out mix version of "Spread Love(3)" (not the Bozo Meko track), so ripe for blends. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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Another Red Astaire remix double-down winner on Homegrown (check the previous one featuring Q-Tip). "Move Yo Ass(1)" is a latin-beats remix using Pharrell's chorus from Clipse's "When The Last Time." P's bravado translates perfectly into this party track. Along similar lines, check...
expand review "Mambo El B-Boy Stance(2)," another latin-beats workout. "Rio De Noche(3)" takes a major left-turn on the b-side, providing a cerebral, downtempo-latin-psyche track. That's a lot to put your head around, but the track is quite amazing. Lastly check the party break, "Nomo(4)," about some girl who wants to keep drinking... we like. Note: due to some massive bass sounds on "Mambo Dinero(5)," this particular song might skip on certain turntables, please consider this when purchasing. -the mgmnt
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In the history of the Lab, Red Astaire is probably somewhere in the top 20 of total amount of 12"s sold. That's pretty impressive for someone who has only released 8 or so 12"s. It's easy to tell why his records do...
expand review so well: they combine quality downtempo and nujazz with party break aesthetics. If you don't want to douse the crowd with the commercial stuff, your next best bet is to go with Red, he keeps the party vibe intact. This is Red's first compilation, and it collects many of the his "famous" tracks plus several unreleased tracks. If you need an introduction, check "Follow Me(1)," that infamous D'Angelo remix that set things off back in 03 (shout to Jamie at Stones Throw for originally putting us on to this back then). In total, you get 12 tracks, spanning his import Gamm releases and his stateside Homegrown releases. Double vinyl, recommended. -the mgmnt
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After a busy 2007, Red Astaire started his 08 assault with a one-sided, white label pressing of the title track(1) (included here). Predictably, the record flew out of here, and just in time, he's come back harder with 5 additional tracks. Red...
expand review always has the club dj in mind, mixing well crafted dance breakbeats with party break aesthetics. Check "2 For The Time(2)" which mixes mambo, latin breaks, and a De La Soul vocal snippet. Downtempo heads, Reds also got something for you, check the blunted "In The Sunshine(3)." Lastly check the tasty, loop interlude "We're Gonna Party Now(4)." -the mgmnt
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